Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

When someone forms a state-registered business (such as a limited liability company or corporation), one of the most important steps of the formation process is designating a registered agent for the company. There are other vital elements, such as choosing a good company name and obtaining licenses and permits. Still, choosing a registered agent is such a crucial step that the state won’t let a person form their business without one.

Whether a business owner can serve as their own registered agent is a common question. The short answer is yes, but the decision carries real trade-offs. The sections below cover the requirements, risks, and alternatives worth weighing before making that choice.

What is a registered agent?

The registered agent is an individual or business entity that accepts service of process and important official state notices on behalf of a registered business. The agent then informs the business owners of the delivery and forwards the notices to them. The specific documents that a registered agent handles include service of process for lawsuits and documents from the Secretary of State’s office.

An entrepreneur has several options for who can serve as their registered agent. For the DIY route, a business owner can designate themselves as the company’s registered agent, recruit a friend or family member to handle it, or assign the role to one of their employees. If the owner would rather have a professional handle this responsibility, they could designate their lawyer or accountant, or they could hire a registered agent service.

What are the requirements for registered agents?

Some states have their own wrinkles when it comes to registered agent eligibility, but for the most part, the rules and regulations are roughly the same no matter where someone forms their business entity. No matter who the registered agent ends up being, that person or entity has to be reachable at the address listed on the company’s formation documents so service of process can actually be delivered. States word this differently: some require the office to be generally open, or an individual agent to be generally present at sufficiently frequent times, while others set out an agent’s duties without stating any business-hours condition at all. Check the statute in your state before assuming a full business-day presence is required.

Beyond that, the registered agent’s office must be a physical address (not a P.O. box) located in the same state where the business is registered. In addition, some states require an individual registered agent to be at least 18 years of age, though many state statutes set no minimum age and instead focus on residency and a physical address in the state.

Can a business owner be their own registered agent?

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to designate themselves as the registered agent for their business, but that doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea. While self-designating can save money by not paying someone else to serve as the company’s registered agent, that’s the only clear positive aspect of self-service. Serving as the business’s registered agent comes with significant risks and responsibilities, such as being responsible for accepting legal documents and having your address become public record.

The requirement to be available at the listed physical business address is a serious drawback for business owners who serve as their own registered agents. Another major problem is that if the entrepreneur receives service of process at their business location, clients or employees may witness it. Being served with a lawsuit in front of customers is bad for business.

Additionally, a business owner serving as their own agent may run into problems when expanding the business into additional states. A business needs a registered agent with a physical address in each state where it operates. Obviously, the owner can’t be present in multiple states at once, so these businesses would need to hire a registered agent service.

Can an entrepreneur have a friend, family member, or business associate serve as their registered agent?

Quite a few businesses choose one of these options for a registered agent, and in many ways, they serve as extensions of the DIY method.

The issue with most of these choices is that many of the same drawbacks of the DIY approach still apply, especially the inability to expand if the registered agent doesn’t have offices in multiple states.

Whether it’s an employee, a business partner, a friend, or a family member, the expansion issue isn’t the only one that applies to these arrangements. Most business owners don’t want to burden a friend or family member with the responsibility of staying reachable at the listed address as often as their state requires, which in some states means keeping that office generally open through the business day.

The issue of having people witness a sensitive document delivery is still present with these options, as well. A professional registered agent can provide privacy and convenience, helping ensure that sensitive documents are handled discreetly.

Can a business owner hire someone to be their registered agent?

Some business owners choose to have their attorney or accountant act as their registered agent (with their consent, of course). And for businesses that only operate in one state, it might be a viable option. But it won’t work well for business owners who operate in multiple states. Plus, these professionals might charge high fees for these services.

Another option is hiring a professional registered agent service. These companies specialize in providing top-notch registered agent service to companies of all sizes, and most of them also have registered agent offices in all 50 states, making potential expansion straightforward.

These service providers typically have competitive price points for registered agent service, as well. The privacy these companies provide is another big advantage. Among the most well-known options are:

• ZenBusiness’s registered agent service

• LegalZoom’s registered agent service 

• Northwest’s registered agent service

• Bizee’s registered agent service

Choosing a Registered Agent Service Provider

When choosing a registered agent service provider, there are several factors for entrepreneurs to consider to help ensure they select the best option for their business. First, a provider with extensive experience handling registered agent services in the relevant state is worth seeking out. Experience helps ensure familiarity with state-specific laws and regulations.

Verifying that the provider has a physical address in the state where the business is formed is also important. This is essential for receiving and forwarding important documents on the business’s behalf. A physical address also helps ensure that the provider can meet the registered agent requirement of being available to accept service of process during the times your state requires.

Customer service is also key. It’s essential to choose a provider with excellent customer service for easy contact when questions or concerns arise. Good customer service can make a significant difference in the overall experience with the registered agent service.

Finally, cost matters. Comparing prices among different providers can help ensure the company gets the best value for the money. While cost is important, it is not the only factor in the decision. The quality of service and the provider’s reliability are equally important.

While a business owner might be legally allowed to serve as their company’s own registered agent, it isn’t advisable in most cases. Considering how affordable professional registered agent services can be, the hassles and privacy concerns of self-service often outweigh the savings.

Each of the options discussed in this guide has its place and, depending on the details of a specific business, some of them may make more or less sense for a particular entrepreneur. Still, for most business owners, the peace of mind and reliable service provided by professional registered agents are worth the cost.